Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Developmental characteristics may include:
changes in body shape due to:
body condition score
education level
fitness level
maturity
teething.
Behaviour and physical symptoms may include:
behavioural:
bucking
during girthing-up
biting
groaning
sitting down
reluctance to stand still
flicking ears
getting tongue over the bit
head shyness
rearing
reluctance to accept bit
reluctance to jump
reluctance to move forward with usual stride or tempo
reluctance to stand for mounting
tossing or shaking head
travelling with head and neck raised
travelling with mouth open or jaw crossed
physical:
bleeding
broken skin
presence of white hair unrelated to skin pigment
on back
trunk
head
legs
rub marks
scarring
swelling.
Materials may include:
saddlery and equipment:
cotton
elastane and other stretch materials
horse hair
leather
neoprene
other synthetics
materials used for shock absorption
metal and plastic fittings
non-galling fabrics
plastic coated webbing
plastics
sheepskin
wool
bits:
copper
nickel-plated
other metals
plastics
rubber
stainless steel.
Saddlery and equipment may include:
breast plates and cruppers
bridles, halters and bitless bridles
bits
boots and bandages
girth
saddles and mounts
saddle cloths and pads
training, corrective and accessory head gear:
head checks
lungeing equipment
martingales
nosebands.
Horse activities may include:
gear design for particular purpose:
display and ceremonial
side saddle
Arabian
Spanish
harness:
3 phase driving
heavy horse
lightweight show
pleasure driving
racing
riding for the disabled
flat riding:
dressage
endurance
hacking
lungeing and long reining
Paralympics riding
polo
polocrosse
racing
tent pegging
trail riding
vaulting
jumping:
eventing
hunting
racing
showjumping
stock horse:
Australian
Western.
Design may include:
construction considerations:
availability of raw materials
cost of finished product
custom-made or mass-produced
long-term versus short-term use
need to fit more than one horse or rider versus individual fit
primary use
horse activity considerations:
ability to absorb or repel sweat, water, dirt
aesthetic considerations related to shape, size, materials and colours used
durability, strength and stability of materials and design in relation to safety
parade or display versus performance activity
rules and regulations related to equipment used.
Condition may include:
wear of materials, hardware and fitting:
broken, frayed or stretched stitching
broken, loose or bent hardware
split, frayed or worn materials
stretched or split adjustment holes
finish of materials or hardware:
clean, mouldy, dirty, dusty
supple, brittle or cracked materials
tarnished or cracking hardware surface
torn, pilled or contaminated cloth or Velcro attachments.
Fit of saddles may include:
saddle fit assessment:
channel width
D rings/attachments
gullet plate
length and breadth - saddle vs conformation
panels
tree
stuffing
saddle types:
stock horse:
full
poley
Western:
barrel racing
cutting
reining
roping
western pleasure
equestrian disciplines:
dressage
eventing
hacking
jumping
military
polo
harness:
3 phase driving
heavy horse
light horse
parade and costume:
Arabian
Native American
Spanish
racing:
flat
harness
jumping.
Bridles, halters and bitless bridles may include:
bitless bridles
double bridles
hackamores:
bosals
mechanical hackamores
single bit bridles:
one ear
ring head
split head.
Common bit types may include:
curbs
gags
mouthing and leading
overcheck
pelhams
snaffles.
Options for adjusting saddlery and equipment may include:
saddle:
using adjustable air panels and saddle cloths
changing or re-shaping gullet plates
changing girth point position or configuration
using smaller or larger saddle
selecting a wider or more narrow saddle
girth:
length
width
material
shape
buckle configuration
bridle:
mixing bride parts and noseband sizes for according to head shape
making more adjustment holes
using a different shape noseband or headpiece design
bit:
connecting joint design - cannons and shanks
material (iron/chrome/copper)
port height
shank length
shape
size/diameter
weight
width
varying position and number of adjustment holes or places
modifying packing
use of padding under saddle:
gel pads
horse hair or equivalent synthetic pads
risers
sheepskin or synthetic anti-rub materials
towels or other temporary packing
withers pads.
Saddle mounts may include:
breastplates
cruppers
girths:
surcingles
over girth
western girth rigs
stirrups:
safety irons
knife edge
racing
western
stirrup leathers
stud guards.
Training, corrective and accessory gear may include:
lungeing:
chambon
lungeing cavesson
lungeing roller
side reins
corrective head accessories
de Gogue
head checks
running and draw reins
martingales:
irish
market harborough
running
standing
nosebands:
cavesson
dropped
Hanoverian
Crackle
crank
protectors or eye sight controllers:
blinkers and pacifiers
shadow rolls
poll protector
serving boots
barrier blankets.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this Unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competence in this Unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this Unit. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
assess construction, purpose and suitability of saddlery and equipment
evaluate factors that can affect the comfort of horses in relation to saddlery and equipment use
assess fit and condition of saddlery and equipment and make recommendations on adjustments.

The skills and knowledge required to evaluate fit of saddlery and equipment must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment for this Unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an equine workplace or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

There must be access to horses and ponies from a range of breeds and age groups and a wide range of saddlery and equipment used on performance and working horses and other relevant information, materials and documentation to enable one to demonstrate competence.
Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry standards, on more than two occasions over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategy must include assessment of competency in a work environment. Suggested strategies for this Unit are:
written and oral assessment of candidate’s required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate’s application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case studies
third-party evidence
workplace documentation.

This Unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other Units of Competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socio-economic backgrounds).